plastics
The world is drowning in plastic, with 57 million tons of pollution annually
The world generates an astonishing 57 million tons of plastic pollution every year, spreading from the depths of the oceans to inside human bodies, with two-thirds coming from the Global South, according to a recent study.
In short:
- Researchers found that the Global South produces more than two-thirds of the world’s plastic waste, much of it due to lack of infrastructure and government waste management.
- The study received criticism, however, for not examining the toll of plastic production, which generates planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants harmful to human health.
- Microplastics, from improperly discarded waste, are increasingly found in human bodies, with uncertain health consequences.
- Final negotiations on a global plastics treaty are scheduled for November, aiming to address this growing problem.
Key quote:
“They [microplastics] are in the most remote places ... the peaks of Everest, in the Mariana Trench in the ocean, in what we breathe and what we eat and what we drink.”
— Costas Velis, University of Leeds environmental engineering professor
Why this matters:
All eyes are on the global plastics treaty negotiations in November, as world leaders try to rein in this crisis before it spirals further. If they succeed, we could finally see a coordinated effort to curb this plastic tidal wave.
Read more: Scientists say health should be the core of global plastic treaty.
Behind closed doors: Civil society groups excluded from key global treaty talks on plastic pollution
This week’s global treaty talks on plastic pollution in Bangkok have sparked outrage as environmentalists and affected communities are locked out of the negotiations, raising concerns about transparency and the future strength of the treaty.
In short:
- Environmentalists, tribal leaders, and community members from areas impacted by plastic pollution are excluded from crucial talks in Bangkok.
- The United Nations cites procedural rules for the exclusion, but critics worry this could lead to a weaker treaty.
- Some nations, like Uruguay and the Philippines, are including nonprofits in their delegations to ensure diverse representation.
Key quote:
“I didn’t think it would go to this extreme, with really limited participation. It’s taking away our ability to fully participate and come up with meaningful solutions.”
— Frankie Orona, executive director of the Society of Native Nations in Texas
Why this matters:
As key voices sound the alarm on being sidelined, the question looms: How effective can a treaty be if those most affected by plastic pollution aren’t even at the table? Read more: Plastics treaty draft underway, but will the most impacted countries be included?
Tiny steps to reduce your exposure to microplastics
Microplastics, pervasive in our daily lives, can now be found in nearly every part of the human body, raising concerns about potential health risks.
In short:
- Microplastics, found in food, air, and water, are hard to avoid but reducing processed foods and using alternatives to plastic can help lower exposure.
- Plastic items like bottles and containers release more microplastics when heated; consider using glass for storage and preparation.
- Household dust and clothing shed microplastics; regular vacuuming with HEPA filters and mindful laundry practices can reduce inhalation risks.
Key quote:
“You’re not going to get to zero, but you can reduce your levels.”
— Tracey Woodruff, professor at the University of California, San Francisco
Why this matters:
Reducing microplastic exposure is important for long-term health, as research suggests links to inflammatory bowel disease and heart complications. Taking simple steps can mitigate risks while scientists work to understand the full impact of microplastics on human health. Read more: A plastic recipe for societal suicide.
Beaver County, Pennsylvania, residents face pollution and lawsuits from Shell's ethane cracker plant
Despite promises of economic growth, Shell's ethane cracker in Beaver County, Pennsylvania has drawn legal challenges and health concerns over its emissions and pollution.
In short:
- Residents of Beaver County are moving away due to air and noise pollution from Shell's recently built ethane cracker plant.
- The plant has already been fined $10 million for exceeding emission limits and is facing lawsuits from locals affected by the pollution.
- Health concerns include the effects of VOCs and other hazardous pollutants on the community, particularly on children.
Key quote:
“It was very clear what kind of facility this was going to be. We all knew it was going to be bad, but it’s shockingly bad.”
— Anaïs Peterson, petrochemicals campaigner for Earthworks
Why this matters:
Ethane cracker plants are industrial sites that process ethane—a component of natural gas—into polyethylene, a plastic used widely in products from packaging to automotive parts. While these plants are touted for their economic benefits, including job creation and local business support, the environmental and health impacts can be profound. Health concerns are mounting for residents living near the Shell ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, as exposure to pollutants commonly emitted from these plants, such as volatile organic compounds and fine particulate matter, can lead to respiratory problems, heart disease, and other serious health issues.
Global plastic treaty talks stall without consensus
Talks were scheduled to end on Monday but continued overnight as negotiators sparred over how to address overproduction.
In short:
- Delegates could not reach an agreement on setting sustainable plastic production limits, despite extending negotiations beyond the initial deadline.
- Countries committed to further technical discussions before the final negotiations in Busan, focusing on identifying hazardous plastics and redesigning packaging.
- More than 50 countries supported analyzing sustainable production levels, but faced opposition from major petrochemical producers.
Key quote:
"Science is clear: we must first address the unsustainable levels of plastic production if we want to end plastic pollution globally.
— Christophe Bechu, France's minister for ecological transition.
Why this matters:
Understanding and controlling plastic production is critical for global health and the environment, as unmanaged plastic waste is a major driver of pollution and climate change. Read more: “Plastic People” — A documentary that changed my view on plastics.
Why a “fracking refugee” is attending the global plastics treaty negotiations
“Fracking and building pipelines in order to create more poisonous plastic is ruining people’s lives.”
Jill Hunkler, an Ohio resident who considers herself a “fracking refugee,” is telling her family’s story at the global plastics treaty negotiations in Ottawa this week, where negotiators from about 175 countries are working to advance a treaty to address global plastic pollution.
“I was forced to leave my home that I built with my own hands,” she told Environmental Health News. “I lived in Somerset Township, Ohio, where my sister, my mom and I had 13 acres of land and we had spent years building homes on it that we loved, but then 78 fracking well pads were built within five miles of our home.”
Air pollution from the fracking operations sickened her and her family, Hunkler said, and they experienced symptoms like headaches, nausea, rashes, body aches and difficulty breathing that they hadn’t experienced before the wells were drilled. The family tried to get help from regulators, but after years of suffering with little action, they opted to move.
Her family moved to another property, she said. “But eventually fracking showed up there too, and I moved again to try and escape it. So now I’m twice a fracking refugee.”
More than 99% of plastic is made from fossil fuels, and as the world transitions to renewable energy, fossil fuel companies — particularly those invested in fracking — are driving a new plastics boom to stay profitable. For example, in the Ohio River Valley, where Hunkler is from, Shell recently began operations at its massive Pennsylvania plastics plant that converts fracked ethane gas into plastic pellets, many of which are used to create single-use plastic products like bags and packaging.
Since starting up in 2022, Shell’s Pennsylvania plastics plant has been fined millions of dollars for violating clean air laws and is being sued by environmental advocacy groups over potential health impacts from harmful emissions. Last week, Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Michelle Henry also announced charges against Shell for violating Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams laws with industrial waste during construction of the pipelines that bring ethane feedstock from fracked natural gas to the plastics plant. Concerns about pollution from the plant have also caused families to move away from the region.
After becoming a fracking refugee, Hunkler spent eight years fighting to stop a similar plastics plant from being built near her home in Ohio — a project that has been put on hold indefinitely.
“When people think about the health impacts of plastics they tend to think about harmful microplastics in our bodies, which is really important, but it’s also important to look at the devastating public health impacts all the way down the supply chain” Hunkler said. “Fracking and building pipelines in order to create more poisonous plastic is ruining people’s lives.”
Tensions at the plastic pollution treaty talks
Jill Hunkler (right) and Anaïs Peterson (left) hold a banner during a march in Ottawa organized by the Break Free From Plastic coalition
Photo by Diane Peterson
If the current trajectory for the plastics industry continues unabated, plastic manufacturing is estimated to account for more than a third of the growth in oil demand by 2030 and nearly half by 2050—ahead of trucks, aviation, and shipping, according to the International Energy Agency.
The stated goal of the global plastics treaty is to end plastic pollution by 2040. Hunkler, like many other activists, believe this goal won’t be achieved unless plastic production stops. They are supporting a version of the plastic treaty supported by a group of “High Ambition” countries that includes slowing down plastic production via bans, restrictions or caps.
"It’s important to look at the devastating public health impacts all the way down the supply chain" – Jill Hunkler, an Ohio resident who considers herself a “fracking refugee.”
Meanwhile, plastic industry lobbyists – also attending the negotiations in Ottawa – are promoting plastic’s beneficial uses, such as medical products and reducing food waste. The plastics industry, alongside a coalition of mostly fossil-fuel-producing countries, are pushing “chemical recycling” as a solution to plastic pollution, but environmental advocates say the process is energy-intensive, creates toxic air and water pollution, and fails to actually reduce plastic waste.
It has also proven difficult to profit from chemical recycling operations — none of the approximately ten operational plants in the US are currently operating at full capacity, according to a report from the advocacy group Beyond Plastic. This month a chemical recycling plant in Oregon was shuttered, and a proposed plant in Pennsylvania was canceled amid concerns about the efficacy and feasibility of chemical recycling.
“I hope sharing my story will help the negotiators in Ottawa recognize that fracking and extracting fossil fuels to keep making more plastic is toxic,” Hunkler said. “With the exception of the small amount of plastic that’s needed for medical and other essential uses, we do not need plastic to function as a society. It’s a relatively new product on the planet, and the convenience of it is not worth jeopardizing the health of our children and future generations.”
California close to wrapping investigation on Exxon's role in plastic pollution
California's Attorney General announced an impending decision on potential legal actions against Exxon Mobil Corp over its role in global plastic pollution.
In short:
- The investigation, started in 2022, examines the oil and petrochemical industry's contributions to plastic waste and misinformation about recycling.
- Exxon, facing scrutiny for misleading public claims about plastic recyclability, is promoting the contentious chemical recycling, also known as advanced recycling.
- Despite ongoing projects, criticisms point to significant delays and failures in Exxon's recycling advancements.
Key quote:
"We are soon going to be ready to get to a decision based on all of our investigations in the coming weeks."
— Rob Bonta, California Attorney General.
Why this matters:
Many consumers believe that recycling their plastic waste sufficiently addresses the problem, but the reality is that a significant portion of plastic is not recyclable, and existing recycling systems capture only a small fraction of the total plastic waste. Most plastic accumulates in landfills, oceans and other ecosystems, where it can take hundreds of years to degrade, releasing harmful chemicals and microplastics that can be ingested by wildlife and enter the human food chain.
Countries are currently meeting in Ottawa to move forward on a historic plastic pollution treaty.